Circle of Violence: A Family Drama

Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (also known as Circle of Violence: A Family on the Edge or simply Circle of Violence) is a 1986 CBS television movie. Directed by David Greene and starring Tuesday Weld, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Bonerz and River Phoenix, the film tells the tragic story of the seldom addressed issue of elder parent abuse.

Circle of Violence: A Family Drama
Tuesday Weld and Geraldine Fitzgerald
Genre	Drama
Written by	William Wood
Directed by	David Greene
Starring	Tuesday Weld Geraldine Fitzgerald Peter Bonerz River Phoenix Philip Sterling Zoaunne Leroy Ellen Travolta Sue Giosa
Music by	Gil Mellé
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Bill Finnegan Patricia Finnegan
Producers	Sheldon Pinchuk Deborah Moore Gerald Rafshoon
Cinematography	Stevan Larner
Editor	David Campling
Running time	90 minutes
Production companies	Lorimar Television Telepictures Productions
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	October 12, 1986 (1986-10-12)

Synopsis

Georgia Benfield is at a difficult place in her life; her husband, Pete, has left her for a younger woman, her teenage son, Chris, is unmanageable, and she's struggling financially when her widowed mother, Charlotte, moves in. Amid juggling a new full-time job, raising two children, and her failing marriage, the constant bickering between mother and daughter continues as it has ever since Georgia was a child.

Finally, at her wit's end, Georgia loses control and begins physically abusing her elderly mother, just as Georgia had been abused herself as a child. As family and friends slowly begin to learn of the abuse, and long buried family secrets come to light, both mother and daughter must learn to accept the past, to change what is happening at present, in order to face a better future.

Cast

• Tuesday Weld as Georgia Benfield
• Geraldine Fitzgerald as Charlotte Kessling
• Peter Bonerz as Pete Benfield
• River Phoenix as Chris Benfield
• Philip Sterling as Jim McLane
• Zoaunne LeRoy as Florence McLane
• Ellen Travolta as Marion
• Sue Giosa as Dr. Kalmeir
• Christina Maria Hutter as Addie Benfield
• Bradley Lieberman as Mark
• Jeanette Miller as Woman Singer
• Adele Gilbert as Mrs. Edwards

Awards

Awards
Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
1986–1987	Young Artist Award	Best Television Family Special, Movie of the Week or Variety Show	Circle of Violence	Nominated	[1]
		Best Young Actress in a Family Special, Movie of the Week or Variety Show	Christina Maria Hutter	Nominated	[1]
1987	Retirement Research Foundation Wise Owl Award	Television and Theatrical Film Fiction	Sheldon Pinchuk Bill Finnegan Patricia Finnegan Deborah Moore Gerald Rafshoon	Honorable mention	[2]